Amazon Picks Up 'Barbarella' TV Series Project

The long-gestating attempt to bring the sci-fi cult classic film 'Barbarella' to TV looks like it's finally happening, thanks to Amazon Studios. Deadline has learned that the studio is backing the project, with plans of setting it up via its online streaming service.

The original 1968 film, about a sexy space cadet of some sort who's tasked to retrieve an evil weapons inventor, was based on a character featured in a graphic novel by Jean Claude Forest. The movie was fairly campy, featuring star Jane Fonda in skimpy, sequin bodysuits and bouffant hair, but the TV project seems to want to take it to a more serious level, since the pilot script was written by Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, the duo behind James Bond's 'Skyfall.'

The movie was a box-office failure, but gained popularity with its re-release in 1977 and, well, there's no denying Fonda's look is pretty popular with some people, too. There's no word on casting yet with the TV project, but Nicolas Refn (who had been attached to direct),and Martha De Laurentiis, whose late husband Dino produced the 1968 movie, are executive producing.

Amazon certainly looks to be giving Netflix a run for its money. The streaming service currently has five comedies and dramas in the works, following the launch of its first original television series, 'Alpha House,' and 'Beta.'

Being a serious sci-fi fan whenBarbarella came out I should have hated it for being a satire and mocking the genre. But, the fact that I had just started junior high school and I think I hit puberty while watching Jane Fonda's initial strip scene I overlooked the minor flaws. If it really did rate cult classic status it was because, 46 year ago, it was kind of unique. Now, I doubt it would get much more then a direct to DVD showing if that. If they "reboot" it in the same way they did with Batman, taking it from the boom, pow, whack, satire of the 60's into the Dark Knight we all know and love, then Barbarella will lose most of what made the movie unique. Plus, Jane Fonda had this wide-eyed innocence that came across as believable and sexy. That character was key to the movie working. Any reboot that doesn't have someone with the same attributes (personality wise) is going to drag the show into oblivion.

Loorarella

Message Posted On Jan 21st, 2014, 5:05 pm

@scotsmania, and how many did you, in fact, see ? IIRC there aren't that many to begin with so far. Kinda wondering what the base for your opinion is here.

bluestone101 Level 1 (98%)Since: 25/Sep/07

Message Posted On Jan 21st, 2014, 6:46 am

I'd love this to work but alas it'll go down like a helium filled blimp. I worshipped the original (who wouldnt) but this has cancelled all over it :(